Reviews by conorr90

This is a fantastic album, and really deserves to be remembered better along with the other great 60s rock albums. Very solid songwriting, interesting storytelling and lyrics and some great riffs too (especially "Wicked Anabella"). The only song on here I don't really like is "All of My Friends Were There". "People Take Pictures of Each Other" was basically decades ahead of its time, more or less predicting modern social media. The only thing that surprised me was reading that the lyrics of the title track weren't meant to all be satirical, I always assumed they were! Listening it again with fresh ears I guess there are some things worth saving in that list. Maybe the point is finding common ground between the old and new and taking the best of both forward?

This was a bit better than I expected, more than just a standard dad rock album. Quite a few catchy tunes on here. Paul McCartney really has a gift with melodies.

I get why this is on the list, but apart from a couple songs there's not much here for me. Something about pop music from this era (Christina A, J Lo, etc.) makes me feel like I'm stuck in a stuffy doctor's waiting room on a hot day. "Born to Make You Happy" is such a problematic song, I can't even start. Given what we know now about how Britney was abused over the years, I really find it hard to enjoy this album at all

This didn't do much for me on the first listen, but on the second I kinda warmed to it. Some of the songs are reminiscent of good western soundtracks, others just fade into the background. And there was one that sounded like a Bond song (Black Heart). Overall, an interesting mix of styles, but I wouldn't be rushing to listen to it again.

Hadn't heard of this one, but recognized a couple of songs on it when they came on. Surprised by how much I enjoyed this - about two thirds of the songs got me moving in my seat a bit, only a couple of duds. It seems to have been pretty influential as well, as the guy went on to produce for some big names. 7/10

Never really knew what the hype was around this band. Although, I wasn't born at the time, so that probably explains it. I like Rio and Hungry Like the Wolf, but the other tracks all sound very similar to me. Slightly annoying vocal style too. Significant enough album, but not for me.

Fantastic album, not quite their best IMO, but close. Elanor Rigby still gives me chills every time I listen to it. Love Me To and Good Day Sunshine are a bit weak, and Yellow Submarine is obviously very silly. But other than those, it's very very good. Tomorrow Never Knows was decades ahead of its time, as the Chemical Brothers showed.

Never heard of this band, after one listen I can see why. They aren't terrible, but their immaturity and inexperience does show. I assume they are on here due to them being an early UK punk band, not sure how influential they actually were though. It's not like they were the first. Most of the lyrical references are very of the time, so it hasn't exactly aged well. I had to look up Gary Gilmore to see why he was so controversial, that is quite funny actually!

This is exactly the type of weird experimental shit I signed up for. I've never heard of this group or any of the musicians involved, but this album really clicked with me. I love the fusion of genres and styles, some of it sounds quite folky, other parts more prog rock or classical. I can see how this might have influenced quite a few modern indie and art rock bands too (particularly thinking of Neutral Milk Hotel, Arcade Fire and BCNR). I'll definitely be on the lookout for this on vinyl, and will be giving their other albums a listen too.

Enjoyed this, but more so the first half than the second punkier half. I had heard of this band before, but had never listened to them, so this was new to me (pun intended). This one gets bonus points from me for the clear influence I can hear in subsequent bands; early U2, New Order and Mogwai on the first side, then countless UK punk bands on the second side. Sealand is my favorite, that song is beautiful!

I really enjoyed this, but found that it doesn't flow very well as an album. They quite cringe "Changes" was never going to fit in anywhere on this album to be fair. Some absolutely iconic riffs on here, not quite as good as Paranoid though obviously.

I had what some might consider to be an unhealthy obsession with U2 in my early teens, so this was a formative album for me and so is hard to judge objectively. I think U2 get a bit more hate than they deserve, particularly from Irish people. The Joshua Tree is undeniably a highpoint in 80s rock, even aside from the 3 major singles. I had forgotten how great some of the deep cuts like 'Running to Stand Still', 'Red Hill Mining Town', and 'One Tree Hill' are. I think the production is very fitting as well, accurately capturing the emptiness of a desert. One of Brian Eno's best for sure.

Anyway enough rambling. It's worth noting that I soon moved on to more "socially acceptable" obsessions with bands like Led Zeppelin, Pearl Jam and Radiohead.

I remember when I first heard of FKA twigs being completely blown away by the tracks "Water Me" and "Two Weeks". I was going through a big exploration of new music at the time, after going through a period of a few years where I was only listening to stuff I already knew.

The rest of this album never clicked as much with me, but it wasn't really like anything I had heard before at the time. Listening to it again now, I can hear clear influences on some acts that came later, so I would consider her a bit of a trailblazer in that regard. However, it's not an album I'd re-listen to often. I find the breathy vocals and repetitive lyrics a bit stale after a while. Musically though, it is very interesting throughout.

Tidal only has the deluxe 2-disc, 2-hour version, but I'm only going to listen to the first 9 songs. Ain't nobody got time for all these extra demos and b-sides.

I had actually listened to this a couple of times before, it's mostly enjoyable but I'm not crazy about it. The longer psych songs like Suicide go on a bit too long for my liking. I prefer the floater ones like Honey. I can see how this influenced later acts though, particularly shoelace.

Very well performed and produced, a few really good songs (Let Love Rule, Fear, Mr. Cab Driver). But the lyrics are a bit too Jesus-y and on the nose for me in places. Like half of the songs on here are basically Christian Rock.

There's some great songs on here (particularly #1-4 and Knights of Cydonia). But there are a couple of duds too (Soldier's Poem, Invincible, Glorious). I enjoy it overall, and the good songs are brilliant, but the lyrics can be a bit too juvenile or basic in places. 7/10.

This is definitely a great album, and a significant watermark in Hip hop. Great sampling, lyrics and flows. It's definitely very influential also. However, it looses points for me due to the skits, particularly the orgy one. They don't add much of anything to the album experience, and the ones that are a bit funny don't stay funny after the first few listens.

This is an absolute masterpiece. Sigur Rós really started something that was so unique and took the mainstream by storm. I know see that this album was the start of a wave of post-rock that changed Alternative music for the better, washing away the post grunge hangover from bands like Radiohead.

I've been meaning to come back to write this review for a while now, as this album is so long that I had to listen to it over several days and then it kinda slipped down the list. Like most double albums, it's a bit of mixed bag. I was surprised to find though that I preferred Big Boi's album - André's horny ramblings are a bit too cringe in places. Some great songs on here, but not the first Outkast album I would recommend to someone - ATLiens or Stankonia would probably be a better intro.

Really enjoyed this, as I've been meaning to check Bad Brains out. I only knew them for "Banned in DC". I also had no idea they were black guys, which gives a fresh angle on the 80s hardcore scene for sure. I also like that they are more melodic than some of their contemporaries and don't just try to play everything heavy and fast. Will definitely be returning to this.